Signals for mail box

ABSTRACT

A multiple number of signals for a mail box, include an enlarged spring lifted signal having hinge means for securing it to the top of a mail box, a side and gravity operated signal which is releasable by opening the mail box door, and a gravity operated bottom signal hinged to the bottom and including an extending lip for engagement with the mail box door.

United States Patent 1 Hallett Aug. 7, 1973 SIGNALS FOR MAIL BOX [76] Inventor: Earl D. Hallett, Rt. No. 2, Box 95,

Columbia, Mo. 65201 [22] Filed: Aug. 16, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 281,227

[52] U.S. Cl. 232/35 [51] Int. Cl A47g 29/12 [58] Field of Search 232/35, 34

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,483,992 10/1949 Young 232/35 3,143,287 8/1964 Holt 232/35 3,650,464 3/1972 Lewis 232/35 2428,423 10/1947 Hurban 232/35 X 3,343,784 9/1967 Waldhaus 823,5 85 6/1906 Coulter .r 2,730,298 1/1956 Haserodt 232/35 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel [57] ABSTRACT A multiple number of signals for a mail box, include an enlarged spring lifted signal having hinge means for securing it to the top of a mail box. a side and gravity operated signal which is releasable by opening the mail box door, and a gravity operated bottom signal hinged to the bottom and including an extending lip for engagement with the mail box door.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SIGNALS FOR MAIL BOX This invention relates to signal devices, and more particularly to signals for a mail box.

It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to provide signals for a mail box which will be activated simultaneously when the mailman opens the door of the mail box and places mail therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide signals which may be of any suitable material of various colors which may be also luminous so as to indicate to the owner of the box when the mailman has deposited mail therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide signals that will be placed strategically upon the mail box so as to enable the user to view them from various angles.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide signals for a mail box which will be simple in design, in

expensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention shown partly broken away;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an end view of FIG. 1 showing all of the signal members extended.

According to this invention, signals for a mail box which has sides 11 and 12, a bottom side 13, an end wall 14, and a door 15, includes an enlarged signal 16.

Signal 16 is secured in a suitable manner, to a hinge 17, the opposite end of hinge 17 being secured by suitable fastener means to a shim 17 thus raising hinge 17 for effortless operation of signal 16. Extending from the opposite end of signal 16, is a tapered lip 18 having a slot 19 which enables signal 16 not to interfere with mail box 10 latch member 19. When door is closed, the ends of lip 18 are received beneath the top portion of door 15 thus signal 16 is held in position horizontally on the top portion of mail box 10. An eye bolt 20 is secured fixedly to signal 16 in front of the hinge 17 and one end of spring 21 is secured thereto. Spring 21 extends through tube 22 and the other end of spring 21 is secured within opening 23 of end wall 14.

A bottom signal 24 is secured by means of hinge 25 to the bottom side 13 of mail box 10 and the opposite end of signal 24 is provided with an extending lip 26 which is arcuate in configuration so as to abutt with the bottom portion of door 15 of mail box 10, the lip 26 thus serves as retainment means for signal 24 until door.

15 is opened. A gravity operated side signal 27 is secured to hinge 28 when in angular position, hinge 28 being secured by suitable fastener means to the side 12 of mail box 10. A corner 29 of signal 27 is received by door 15 to thus hold signal 27 in place until the mailman opens the door 15.

In use, the mailman opens door 15 for the placement of mail within box 10. When the door 15 is opened, lip 18 of signal 16 is released, corner 29 of signal 27 is released and lip 26 of signal 24 is released, thus activating all of the signals 16, 24, and 27. The tension of spring 21 pulling on the eye bolt 20 of signal 16 serves to immediately raise signal 16 to its full upward position. The dis-engagement oflip 26 of signal 24 from door 15, causes signal 24 to pivot downwards by gravity means. When the corner 29 of signal 27 is released from door 15, signal 27 will also drop downwards by gravity means.

What I now claim is:

1. The combination in signals for a mail box,- of a spring operated signalwith hinge means for securing it to the exterior of a mail box, a hinged and gravity operated side signal carried by said mail box, a hinged and gravity operated bottom signal carried by said mail box with retaining lip means, the upper pivotable signal of said mail box including lip means having a central opening, said central opening providing a means for freely receiving a latch portion on the upper portion of said mail box at the door end and the tips of said lip portion being receivable beneath the flange portion of said door, the hinged end of said signal of said mail box being secured by suitable fastener means against a shim on a top of said mailbox, an eye 'bolt secured to said signal spaced and adjacent of said hinge providing securement means for one end of said spring, the opposite end of said spring being carried freely within tube means said tube means protecting the outer surface of said mail box, the opposite end of said spring being received within opening of the end wall of said mail box, said spring providing the necessary tension to pivotably raise said signal on top of said mail box when said door is opened, said signal that is spring operated, operating simultaneously with said gravity operated side signal and said gravity operated bottom signal of said mail box. a i i i i i 2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said side signal secured angularly by its hinge to one of said sides of said mail box and a corner of said signal is received within said flange of said door so that when saiddoor is moved away from said corner of said side secured signal, said signal will drop by gravity means so as to indicate to the owner of said mail box said mail has been delivered, said side signal being simultaneously operated with said top signal and said bottom signal.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said bottom signal is secured by hinge means to the bottom wall of said mail box, the opposite end having an extending lip of arcuate configuration, the extreme end of which abutts with the bottom of said mail box door and when said mail box door is opened by' said mailman, said lip is disengaged thus causing said bottom signal to drop downwards by gravity means.

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1. The combination in signals for a mail box, of a spring operated signal with hinge means for securing it to the exterior of a mail box, a hinged and gravity operated side signal carried by said mail box, a hinged and gravity operated bottom signal carried by said mail box with retaining lip means, the upper pivotable signal of said mail box including lip means having a central opening, said central opening providing a means for freely receiving a latch portion on the upper portion of said mail box at the door end and the tips of said lip portion being receivable beneath the flange portion of said door, the hinged end of said signal of said mail box being secured by suitable fastener means against a shim on a top of said mail box, an eye bolt secured to said signal spaced and adjacent of said hinge providing securement means for one end of said spring, the opposite end of said spring being carried freely within tube means said tube means protecting the outer surface of said mail box, the opposite end of said spring being received within opening of the end wall of said mail box, said spring providing the necessary tension to pivotably raise said signal on top of said mail box when said door is opened, said signal that is spring operated, operating simultaneously with said gravity operated side signal and said gravity operated bottom signal of said mail box.
 2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said side signal secured angularly by its hinge to one of said sides of said mail box and a corner of said signal is received within said flange of said door so that when said door is moved away from said corner of said side secured signal, said signal will drop by gravity means so as to indicate to the owner of said mail box said mail has been delivered, said side signal being simultaneously operated with said top signal and said bottom signal.
 3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said bottom signal is secured by hinge means to the bottom wall of said mail box, the opposite end having an extending lip of arcuate configuration, the extreme end of which abutts with the bottom of said mail box door and when said mail box door is opened by said mailman, said lip is disengaged thus causing said bottom signal to drop downwards by gravity means. 